Apparatus for finishing hosiery



June 9, 1953 s. BAILEY, JR 2,641,120

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING HOSIERY Filed May 21, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Q1 By SIDNEY B'MLEFgQR ATTORNEY June 9, 1953 s. BAILEY, JR

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING HOSIERY 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21 19 INVENTORN' ATTORNEY June 9, 1953 s. BAILEY, JR 2,641,120

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING HOSIERY Filed May 21, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. SWNEY BNLEYJQFZ.

glwx m A TTORA/E Y June 9, 1953 Filed May 21, 1948 g s. BAILEY, JR 2,641,120

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING HOSIERY 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I 2| Hui ATTORNEY S. BAILEY, JR

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING HOSIERY June 9, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 21, 1948 INVENTOR.

SIDNEY BAILE X YJJR.

I? TTORll/EY June 9, 1953 s. BAIL EY, JR

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING HOSIERY 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 21, 1948 INVENTOR.

, SumEY Emma MR. BY M ATTORNEY Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (or. ssTzo) 17 Claims.

This invention relates enerally to apparatus for treating articles of textile material, particularly goods knitted or woven of synthetic yarns capable of being set preparatory to dyeing.

In the finishing of articles such as hosiery vii-oven qr knitted of synthetic yarns, it has been found desirable, in order to provide the same with a satisfactory feel and Wrinkle-free appearance, to subject them to a hot vaporous pressure medium, such as steam under pressure, to pre-set the woven or knitted yarns preliminarily to dyeing and finally drying the articles upon their shape-sustaining forms. Inasmuch as the pre-setting, dyeing and drying operations, as heretofore carried out in accordance with more or less conventional practice, are all necessarily eiiected by the use of heated fluid mediums, considerable time and labor has been consumed in the handling of the fabricated articles during their successive treatments, much of this time and labor being wasted in transferring the arti: cles from one treatment apparatus to another.

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of an apparatus in the nature of an autoclave in which all the necessary treatments are successively applied to the articles while the latter move continuously through the apparatus, each article being uniformly subjected to the same cycle of treatments, thereby assuring not only uniformity in the final result but also achieving for the treated articles a finish of uniformly high quality with an eco-. nomical use of the several treating media and the expenditure of a minimum amount of time and ber- More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an autoclave type of apparatus having separate chambers through which the articles to be treated move continuously tor successive pre-setting, dyeing and drying treatments, the initial pre-setting and the final drying operations being each effected in a chamberfilled with a hot vaporous pressure medium, such as steam under pressure, and the intermediate dyeing operation being effected in a chamber suitably containing a heated liquid dye bath, the articles undergoing treatment being automatically conveyed through the several chambers in accordance with a predeterminedly fixed operational cycle.

Still another specific and important object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus ofthe character and for the purpose above de scribed having means which are operative automagically t sea] on the several treatment chamto and from the dyeing chamber by means of externally controlled gates through which the articles pass from one chamber to the other.

Each of the pre-setting and drying chambers is provided with inner and outer closure gates for selectively sealing these chambers from the dyeing chamber. In its general aspects, the autoclave apparatus of the present invention is so designed and operated that as an individual rack containing a given number of the articles to be treated is moved into the pre-setting chamber through its opened front closure gate the interior of such chamber is sealed off from the adjoining dyeing chamber by closing the rear gate, the dyeing chamber being then f lled throughout the free space above the level of the dye bath contained therein with steam at relatively high pressure and temperature. Upon disposition of the rack within the pressetting chamthe front closure gate thereof is closed, thereby sealing the interior of the presetting chamber, following which the steam under pressure is delivered from the dyeing chamber into the sealed interior of the pre=setting chamber by way of a valve controlled conduit. In this condition of the apparatus the interiors of the pre-setting chamber and the dyeing chamber are under equalized internal steam pressure, in consequence of which the outer closure gate of the pre-setting chamber is maintained closed while the inner closure gate thereof is freely movable to provide an opening between the pre-setting and dyeing chambers through which the rack containing the articles may be shifted after they have been preset, for the subsequent dyeing operation.

After the presset articles are thus shifted into the dyeing chamber and while the internal pres-s sures of the preeset and dyeing chambers are still under equalized pressure, the rear closure gate of the presset chamber is again closed to seal it on from the dyeing chamber, following which the internal pressure of the pro-set chamber is reduced to, that of atmosphere by exhausting the high pressure steam into the dyeing chamber. By 50. reducing the internal pressure of the preset chamber to that of the atmosphere, the outer closure gate is again freely movable into open position to permit movement of a second rack of articles into the pre-set chamber, the cycle of operation as just described being repeated for each rack successively fed into the autoclave.

As each rack of articles passes through the rear opened gate of the pre-set chamber it is received by an elevator mechanism which lowers the rack to the bottom of the dye bath for complete submergence of the articles within the heated liquid dye, the lowered rack'with its load of articles to be treated still immersed in the dye, being then transferred laterally across the dye bath to a second elevator mechanism which raises the rack out of the bath and into position for movement outwardly of the autoclave? by way of a drying chamber above referred to. .As in the case of the pre-set chamber, this drying chamber is also provided with inner and outer closure gates, the inner gate being freely movable into open position only while the internal pressure of the drying chamber 'is equalized with that of the dyeing chamber.

Upon such opening of the inner closure gate of the drying chamber, the elevated rack of the dyed articles is shifted into the drying chamber wherein they are dried by the superheated steam. Following such shifting of the rack into the drying chamber, the inner closure gate thereof is closed to seal its interiorfrom the dyeing chamber whereupon the internal pressure of the drying chamber is reduced to that of the atmosphere by exhausting the high pressure steam into the dyeing chamber by way of a suitably valved conduit. Thereupon the outer closure gate of the drying chamber is free to be openedto permit delivery of the finished articles from the autoclave, each rack being successively shifted to and through the drying chamber from the dye chamber upon completion of the dyeing treatment. Thus, the drying chamber operates in a manner similar to that of the pre-setting chamber to successively accept the several racks of articles for treatment by the same fluid pressure medium, such as steam under relatively high pressure and temperature, one chamber serving initially to pre-set the articles into wrinkle-free condition preliminarily to dyeing the same and the other serving finally to dry the articles after they have been dyed.

It will be understood, of course, that it is among the objects and aims of the present invention to provide an apparatus which will efiiciently operate as above described and that still other objects and advantages will be apparent from the detailed description of the present invention as hereinafter set forth.

It will be understood also that the present invention consists not only in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts as shown in the accompanying drawings, but also in the novel continuous method of treatment made possible by the apparatus of the present invention, all as will appear more fully hereinafter and as finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative of a preferred form of apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention,

Figure 1 is a front perspective view showing the autoclave apparatus of the present invenion;

Figure 2 is a side elevational, partially in. S Q- 4 tion, showing the apparatus of Figure 1 operatively associated with an external conveyor for the articles delivered to and from the autoclave;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view as taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged views of the transfer mechanisms respectively embraced by the dotted line circles of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a rear elevational view of the autoclave;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof asltakenalong the line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view of the dyeing chamber as taken along the line '99 of Figurel;

. Figure 9A is a horizontal sectional view as taken along the line 9A-9A of Figure 9;

I Figure 9B is a vertical sectional view as taken along the line 9B9B of Figure 9;

Figure 10 is a vertical section corresponding to the lower left portion of Figure 9 showing the article supporting racks moved into position free of the rack-lowering elevator;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the racklowering elevator of Figure 10 and its operating mechanism;

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view of the drying chamber as taken along the line [1-42 of Figure 1, the outer gate of the chamber being shown in its open position;

Figure 13 is a perspective view illustrating the mechanism for effecting lateral transfer of the article-supporting racks from the lowering elevator on one side of the dyeing chamber to the lifting elevator on the opposite side of said chamber;

Figure 13A is a perspective view showing a preferred form of one of the shiftable racks designed to support the work to be treated by the present apparatus;

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic view in plan of the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view in vertical section of the apparatus, said section extending longitudinally through the pre-set and dyeing chambers; and

Figures 16 to 25, inclusive, are diagrammatic views, all in longitudinal vertical section, illustrating operation of the apparatus as the articles to be treated are passed successively through the several treatment chambers of the autoclave.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed that the present invention is essentially in the form of an autoclave designated generally by the reference numeral I0 having a plurality of chambers I I, I2 and 13 each of which is adapted to be separately closed to the atmosphere. As appears most clearly in Figures 1 and 2, the autoclave 10 in horizontal plane is of generally U-shape, the chamber 12 constituting the base of the U and the chambers H and I 3 extending forwardly from one side wall of the chamber I!) to form the legs of the U, these chambers II and 12 being arranged in laterally spaced parallel relation for respective communication with opposite ends of the chamber [2.

The chamber ll serves as the pre-setting chamber in which the synthetic yarns of the articles to be treated by the apparatus of the present invention are initially pre-set to render the article fabric free of wrinkles or creases. The chamber 12 constitutes the dyeing chamber Wi h n the i te im I hich sentence a bested liquid dye path through which the ,pre-set arti l s ar s d p e im nar ly to th rma dryin of th sa this dryin @vs atwebs ee fi iss in t e ch mber 1-3 t med th dr in chamber.

It will be noted that these chambers ll, 12

and iii are so correlated as, to permit the articles to be treated to be successively passed therethrough, each article being thus uniformly sub: i et o h ame s u nc o tr a m nt n m f st a er t n t a m nt se ond a dy t eatm n nd h d a dr in treatment t W111 @1 9 be not d ha th i termedi t dy in chamber I2 is of considerably greater eapacity than either of the chambers ll and J3, its bottom b i sea ed W l l-QW 19 399 31131 9 1 zontellir di se bQtt wa ls o t ch b rs and Th n ra arrang m nt 9 th as.- paratus is such that the chamber I; may receive a bat of t l dat i uffici volum t completely submerge the articles as they pass through the bath from one side thereof .to the otherfthe upper level of the dye bath in the chamber-l2 being soinewhat'below the horizontal plane of the bottom walls of the chambers and I3 so as to prevent anypos sibility of the dye spilling into these latter chambers.

' Each of the" chambers l-l and I3 is provided witha frontal seeping 44 adapted to be closed by a pivotally mounted closure gate l5, he most clearly appears in Figuresl and 8,"these outer closure gates [5 1 5 of the chambers H and B are respectively secured to transversely extending shafts l6 disposed justiwithinthe openings t l-l4 adjacent thebottoins thereof these bearing shafts for the closure gates 15 b'ingea'ch suitably journalled within the opposite sideavalls of the chambers H and i3 -foroscillatory movement means" of pperaung mechanisms 'to presently described, the closure gates" ib-9E5 being thus operative to be swung through arcs of approximately 99 degrees to fully close or open theouter openings l i i4'of the chambers. ll and I3.

These chambers H and 13, which are respectively suitably bolted to the front wall of the chamber 12 as by the bolts 11 (see Figure 1) are each adapted for communication with the in,- teri'or of the chamber I? by 'iway of openings l 8--l8 respectively adapted to be closed or opened by swingably'mount'ed gates'lil-qii. These lat,- ter gates l9- |9 are suitably fixed to oscillatably mou shafts 2 1 i xte n tra sr r y across the top edges of the openings l-lil 8, the closure gates lfi alfibeing thus swingable into open or closed position b suitable operating mechanisms to be presently described. It will be important to note that the front opening l4 and the rear opening lb ,of each of the chambers H and I3 are longitudinally alined with respect to each other so that the work to be treated may be molved rectilinearly through each of these chambers. in the case of the chamber H, the workto be treated moves inwardly through said chamber l Iinto' the interior of the dye'chamber l2, while in thecase of thechamber t3 the work moves" outwardly therethroiigh from the dye chamber I2, The closure gates i5 and IQ operatively associated with each of the chambers ii and i3 serve, when closed, to hermetically seal the interiors of said chambers, thereby enabling each of saidchambers to be filled with a vaporous pressure medium, such as super heated steam, preferably at a temperature offrom 210 to 260 olegrees F. and at a pressure of from 29 to 50p ouncls The inner closure gates i9 ,l-9 serve the addit Q i h an tica of scalin Fit; t e hamber 2 rom th in erio f he ch mb a d -13 as when one or the other of the outer closure gates .5 the b t ev h reb m in ins Wi hi the h mbe he te m a t d sired operating temperature and pressure. By selectively opening and closing the closure gates L5 and t9 ofone or the other of the chambers I I and i3, by'the mechanisms to be presently de: scribed, it becomes possible to equalize the internal steam pressures of the chambers H and I2 or of the chambers l3 and i2 so as to render the inner closure gates ill-19 freely movable into their open or closed positions and to maintain thepute'r closure'gates l5l5 securely closedagainst atlnospheric pressure.

As most clearly appears in the diagrammatic Views shown in Figures 15 to 25, inclusive, the pre-sset chamber ii is connected to the b ottcmoi the dye chamber t2 by a conduit 20 within the length of which is included .a valve 2i and a motor driven pump 22, the valve being designed, upon operation of the pump '22 ,to transfer the steam under pressure from within the sealed chamber 1 I to the interior of the dyeing chamber l2. A second conduit 23 interconnects the top of the dye chainber 12 with the interior of the chamber ll by way of a check valve 24, the flow of the pressure fluid through the check valves 2! and 2 l being as indicated by the arrows in the diagrammatic views of Figures 15 to 2,0.

The chamber 13 is similarly interconnected with the chamber 12 by a conduit 25 having in,- cluded therein a valve 28 and a motor driven pump 27 and by a second conduit 28 in which is included a valve 29, the flow of the pressure fluid through these conduits 2,5 and 29 being as indicated. by the arrows in the diagrammatic views in Figures 21 to 25, inclusive.

as most clearly appearsin Figures 8 and 12, the front closure gates 15- 15 and the chambers l i and it are each fitted pn its outer surface with a guide track 3.9 extending longitudinally of the 3. 9.?! 5 g id t ac being s c el adapt? ed, when the gates are swung into their horizontally disposed open positions, as in Figures 1 and 8 to receive specially formed article supporting a k r sstilin er guid nce hro the h m: bers ii and {2. Figure 13 shows a preferred m o one 9i sai r ck d i nated n -1 by the reierence numeral 3i, it being observed that each such rack consists of an elongated member of generally channel chaped cross section, the opposites idle walls of which are respectively provided with inwardly turned freely extending top flanges #32, while the bottom wall of the member is provided with a longitudinally extending central rib 33. This bottom rib 33 o the ac is a a ted to n n n u a d- 1y res i s l n i ud na l ex di ro v 34 formed in the track 39 supported by each of the closure gates l 5l 5, the arrangement being such that the rack 3! is rectilinea 'ly shiftable along the track 38 in which it is nested. Each of the racks 3| is provided with longitudinally spaced pairs of opposed outwardly projecting elements 3535, the function of which will be apparent hereinafter.

Qperatively associated with each of the front 1 .513 3 1 5 l 0f the 9 31 H and 3 is n cpe a in mech n m h rsie desi nat d generally by the reierence numeral 37. As most clearly appears in Figures 1 and 3, these operate ing mechanisms 31-31 are respectively mounted uponthe proximate'side walls of the chambers I and I3, each such mechanism including a fluid pressure'cylinder 38 having a'piston 39 operable therein for reciprocation of atoothed rack 40 in meshed engagement with a segmental gear 4| keyed to the oscillatably mounted shaft I6 of the closure gate. Upon Operation of the cylinder 38, which is preferably of single acting type and designed to be operated either pneumatically or hydraulically by a suitable pressure fluid operatively delivered thereto by way of suitable conduits (not shown), the rack 40 may be projected forwardly and retracted rearwardly to alternately close and open the closure gate I of the chamber with which the operating mechanism 31 is associated.

Similarly mounted upon the opposite side walls of the chamber I2 are the operating mechanisms 4242 for closing and opening the inner closure gates I9|9, these latteroperating mechanisms being in all material respects identical to those just described for operation of the front closure gates. Thus, each includes a fluid pressure cylinder 43, a reciprocable piston 44 to which is connected a toothed rack 45, and a segmental gear 46 keyed to the closure gate shaft 20 and in mesh with the rack 45. The operation of the mechanisms 3|3| and 42 42 for closing and opening the inner and outer closure gates of the chambers II and I3 may be effected by any desired control means located at any point convenient to the operator in charge of the apparatus, which control means may be in the form of manually or electrically operable valves for controlling the supply of the pressure fluid to the pressure cylinders 38 and 43 of the operating mechanism.

' As appears most clearly in Figure 8, the track 30 carried by each of the front closure gates I5|5 of each of the chambers II and I3 serves,

when the latter gates are swung into their open positions as shown in Figure 8, as a forward extension or continuation of a fixed track 46 suitably mounted in the rear portion of each of said chambers II and I3, the relative locations of these fixed tracks 46-46 being as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 3. It will be understood, of course, that the fixed track 46, in each of the pre-setting and drying chambers, is in longitudinal alinement with the 'swingable track 30 so that when the latter is lowered into its horizontal position the article supporting rack 3| may be moved lengthwise through the Whole length of each of said chambers.

' While the apparatus of the present invention is especially adapted for the treatment of knitted hosiery, it will be understood, of course, that the apparatus is applicable for the treatment of various other articles. For the treatment of knitted hosiery as illustrated in the drawings, each stocking to be treated is fitted over a rigid form to provide a series of units 41 adapted to be removably slipped into each of a number of separate racks 3|. Preferably, each of these racks is of a length suflicient in itself to accommodate forty-eight closely associated units 41, as most clearly appears in Figure 8, the rack so supporting all of these stockings to be treated being progressively shifted through the pre-se'tting, dyeing and drying chambers in their order named. The forms upon which the stockings are fitted to make up each of the units 41 may be of any conventional type and may each be provided with a base adapting it tobe' slidably received 8- withinthe longitudinally extending channel of thesupporting rack 3|.

In order to shift the rack 3| with its load 0 stockings to be treated through the pre-setting chamber II, the apparatus of the present invention includes a fluid pressure operated puller mechanism 48 essentially consisting of a fluid pressure cylinder 49 mounted upon and extending rearwardly of the rear wall 50 of the dye chamber I 2. Operatively associated with this cylinder 43 is a horizontally reciprocable piston 5| upon the free end of which is fitted a springpressed latch 52 having a laterally turned terminal end adapted to engage behind the laterally projecting element 35 of the rack 3| when the latter has been shifted into its proximate position within the chamber I I as shown in Figure 8. It will be apparent that upon retraction of the piston 5| under the influence of its fluid pressure operated cylinder 49, the loaded rack 3| will be rectilinearly drawn rearwardly of the chamber II into the dye chamber I2. It will be understood, of course, that the cylinder 49 is of adequate length to insure sufiicient travel of the piston 5| to position the loaded rack 3| fully within the confines of the chamber I2.

To shift the loaded rack 3| outwardly of the chamber I2 and into the drying chamber I3, following the dyeing operation performed within the chamber I2, a fluid pressure operated pusher mechanism 53 is provided, this pusher mechanism being in all material respects similar to that of the puller mechanism 48 excepting that the outer end of its horizontally reciprocable piston is provided with an axially extending rigid stem 54 (see Figure 6) which engages the element 36 of the rack 3| to push the latter outwardly of the chamber I2 and rectilinearly into the drying chamber I3. As in the case of the puller mechanism, the cylinder 55 of the pusher mechanism is of such length as to insure sufficient travel of its piston 56 to shift the loaded rack completely out of the dye chamber I2.

Operatively disposed within the dyeing chamber I2 are a pair of elevator mechanisms 60 and 6| respectively located at opposite sides of the chamber'and adapted to respectively lower the loaded racks 3| into the dye bath and raise the same therefrom following completion of the dyeing treatment, As appears most clearly in Figures 9, 9A, 10 and 11, the work-lowering elevator mechanism 60 is that which is immediately associated with the pre-setting chamber II, this mechanism including a longitudinally grooved elevator platform 62 suitably secured to and extending laterally of a vertically shiftable supporting frame 63. This frame 63 comprises a pair of laterally spaced vertically extending toothed racks 6464, the lower ends of which are rigidly interconnected by a horizontally extending lower frame member 65, while their upper ends are similarly interconnected by a horizontally extending upper frame member 66. The elevator platform 62 and its supporting frame 63 are movable as a unit between a pair of vertically extending guide channels |i1-61 suitably secured within the fore and aft corners of the chamber I2 on the side thereof adjoining the pre-set chamber II.

It will be noted that the teeth of the racks 6464 are disposed externally of the vertical guide channel 6'|6'I and also that said teeth present in a direction facing the end Wall 68 of the chamber I2. I Suitably mountedupon the external surface of this endfwall. 68 is a horizontally between the opposite end walls of which is suitably jouinalled a rotatable Shaft l0. Keyed to this shaft in are a pair of laterall spaced pinions ll-1| (see Figure 11) for meshing engageinent respectively with vertieally shiftable toothed racks G LJM, these pinions being projected through the wall as of the chamber l2 by way of openings suitably provided in said wall. The mounting 69 serves as an enclosure for the pinions 'H-'H and also as a cover for hermetically sealing said openings through which the gears 'H--'ll project against communication with the atmosphere. I

The shaft Hi extends through the rear end (if the mounting 69 to provide an extension upon whicnis keyed a pinion 12, this inion being in mesh with a toothed rack T3 suitably 'secured to the end of a fluid pressure actuated piston 14 suitably operable within a cylinder 15. This cylinder (Sis externally mounted upon the chamber l2 at the rear side corner thereof and serves as the means for Vertically shifting the elevator platform 62 through the intervention of the several racks and p'inions just described. v

It will be noted that the ldl'igitudinally extending groove It in the upper face of the elevator platform 62 lies in the vertical plane of the correspondingly grooved track extending longitudinally through the drying chamber I I,

in consequence of which it will be apparent that when the elevator platform 62 is raised to its uppermost position by means of the fluid pressure operating mechanism consisting of the cylinder 15 and its associated parts, the groove it will be in longitudinal alinement with the groove of the stationary track 46 in the pre-set chamber H and thus will be in position to accept a loaded rack 31 as the latter is drawn rearwar'dly a from the pre-set chamber by means of the fluid pressure operated puller mechanism 48 hereinb'efo're described. The elevator platform 16 is of sufilc'ient length to itself fully support a single rack for lowering the same downwardly into.

nism 66, the elevator mechanism 6! is also pro- 7 vided with a longitudinally grooved elevator platform 17, suitably supported upon a vertically shiftable frame guide for rectilinear movement between a pair of vertically extending guide channels Ea le, these latter being respec- 1 tivel'y disposed in the fore and aft corners of the chamber !2 on the side thereof adjoining the drying chamber I3, The mechanism for vertically shifting the platform 11 of the elevator mechanism 6| includes coacting racks and pinions similar to those previously described for operating the elevator mechanism 60, these pinions being keyed to an operating shaft 19 suitably journalled between the end walls of a mounting 80 secured to the side wall 8| of the chamber l2. Rotation of the shaft 19 for raising and lowering of the elevator platform 11 is effected by means of a fluid pressure motor consisting of the thinn r 82' and its V rne-any reciprocable piston actuated rack 83. As in the case of the matrorm elevator 62, the platform elevator H is also longitudinally grooved, as at 84 (see Figure 9) to provide a longitudinal continuation of the groove provided in the fixed track 46 of the chamber I3. It will be understood that the function of the elevator platform l? is to successiv'ely raise each of the loaded racks upwardly through the dye bath and into position in horizontal alineinent with the track extending through the drying chamber l3. Suitably arranged within the dyeing chamber 12 is a lateral transfer mechanism 85 for successively shifting the loaded racks 3! from the elevator mechanism 86 to and upon the elevator mechanism of, this transfer mechanism operating' to shift the racks 3| edgewise along a path adjoining the bottom of the chamber so that the articles to be treated are completely submerged in the dye bath during the course of their travel from (fine to the other of the laterally spaced elevator mechanisms. This lateral transfer mechanism, as is most clearly shown in Figures 8 to 10, inclusive, and 13, includes a pair of spaced parallel rails fie-86 which extend transversely across the bottom of the chamber [2 from one side wall 68 thereof to the opposite side wall 8|, these rails bein suitably supported upon an understructure 8'! (see Figure 8) resting upon the bottom wall of the chamber [2. The rails 86-8-3 are spaced apart a distance somewhat less than the overall length of the work-supporting rack 3| so that the opposite ends of each of the latter may rest upon the spaced rails and so be supported thereon for edgewise shift of the racks in a horizontal plane. As most clearly appears in Figure 13A the downwardly projecting longitudinally grooved rib 33' of each rack 3| is cut away at its opposite ends, as at 88, so that the racks may rest flatwi'se upon the upper supporting edges of the rails 86=86 with the grooved rib 33 projecting below the horizontal plane of said supporting edges", thereby preventing displacement of the racks laterally of their Supporting rails while permitting edgewise shifting lengthwise of the rails from the elevator mechanism 60 operatively associated with the pro-set chamber ll toward the elevator mechanism 6! operatively associated with the drying chamber I3.

It will be noted, as most clearly appears in Figures 9, 9A, 10 and 13A, that the longitudinally spaced flat-surfaced bosses 353$ provided upon each outer face of a given worksup orting rack 3| are respectively adapted to abut the corresponding bosses of a next adjoining rack supported upon the rails 86-8fi, thus maintaining all of the racks in parallel, spaced relation upon their supporting rails 86-86. It will be apparent also that as each rack 3| is transferred from the lowered elevator mechanism 5!! to and upon the rails 86-46 for edgewise shifting therealo'ng, said rack engages the rack previously transferred to the supporting rails 86--8B and pushes it along the rails toward the elevator mechanism 6|. Thus; step-by-step shifting of all of the racks 3! along their supporting rails 8686 for a distance equal to the overall width of a given rack is simultaneously eiiected as the given rack is transferred to and shifted edgewise along the rails, the leading rack in the group so shifted being moved into position directly above the elevator platform TI simultaneously as the last rack in the group is moved from the elevator platform 62 into its laterally spaced rails 86-86.

11 initial position upon the supporting rails 86-86.

In order to effect this step-by-step shifting of the racks 3| 'along their supporting rails 86-86, there is provided a fluid pressure operated transfer mechanism designated generally by the reference numeral 90 (Figures 7 and 8). This mechanism 99 includes a fluid pressure cylinder 9| suitably mounted upon the rear wall of the chamber l2 having a reciprocable piston 92 the free end of which is fitted with a toothed rack 93 constituting an extension of the piston. This toothed rack 93 is in mesh with a pinion 94 suitably mounted in a journal box 95 externally fixed to the rear wall of the chamber l2, this pinion 94 being in meshed engagement with a gear 96 also enclosed within the box 95, this latter gear being suitably keyed to a shaft 97 projecting from the journal box 95 into the chamber l2. The shaft 91, which extends transversely of the fixed rails 86-88 (see Figures 9A and 13) is provided with a pair of pinions 98-98 respectively located adjacent the inner sides of the rails, these pinions 98-98 being keyed to the shaft 97 for rotation therewith.

Operatively associated with each of these pinions 98-98 is a hook bar 99 in the form of a toothed rack each of which latter extends in parallel relation to its closely adjoining fixed rail 89 and is provided at one end thereof with a hooked end I96. These hook bars 99-99 are guided for rectilinear movement in a common horizontal plane by a suitable means, preferably by providing each bar with oppositely extending guide fianges ||-|0| which coact with and slide in complementally grooved supporting brackets I62 secured to or formed as integral parts of the fixed rails 86-86 (as see Figure 8).

As most clearly appears in Figure 13, the horizontal plane of movement of the hook bars 99 is at such elevation as to permit the hooked ends |68 thereof to engage behind the grooved rib 3| of each work-supporting rack 3| when the latter is initially deposited upon the rails 86-86 by the lowered platform 62 of the elevator mechanism 68. In this connection it will be noted that the elevator platform 62 is of such length and is so disposed between the fixed rails 86-86 as to provide between each rail and the-opposite ends of the elevator platform free spaces within which the book bars 99-99 may shift Without interference by the elevator platform 62 even when the latter is lowered into its bottom-most position. It will be noted also that the permissible travel of the hook bars 99 is such that when they are shifted to their fullest extent toward the elevator mechanism 60 the hooked end it of said bars will be disposed immediately beyond the grooved center 16 of the elevator platform 62 so that as the latter descends with its loaded rack 3| the hooked ends I00 of'the hook bars will be in position to engage behind the grooved rib 33 of the loaded rack 3| simultaneously as the latter is deposited upon the Thereupon, as the elevator platform 62 descends below the horizontal rack-supporting plane of the rails 86-86 into its lowermost position shown in Figures and 11, the loaded rack 3| is free to be drawn by the hook bars 99-99 upon operation of the lateral transfer mechanism 90 from its initial position (designated A in Figure 9) immediately above the platform 62 into its transferred position (designated B in Figure 10) upon the supporting rails 86-86. As previously described, each such loaded rack 3| thus transferred from bers H and I3. -is preferably driven by sproket and sproket position A to position B engages the previously transferred rack and so effects step-by-step shifting of all of the loaded racks 3| along the rails 86-86 toward the elevator mechanism 6| which includes the lifting platform 11.

As in the case of the work lowering platform 62 of the elevator mechanism 60, the lifting platform of the elevator mechanism 6|, when moved into its lowermost position as shown by the dotted line representation in Figure 9, assumes a position wherein its grooved portion 84 is horizontally disposed below the horizontal shifting plane of the loaded racks 3| along the rails 86-86. Consequently, when these rails 86-66 support their full complement of the loaded racks 3|, as in Figure 9, upon each shift of the supported group of racks along the rails 86-86 the foremost one of said racks is free to be shifted from its position designated 0 into a position wherein it is located directly above the groove 84 of the platform 71. Thereupon, upon upward movement of the platform 71 by operation of the lifting elevator mechanism 6|, the rack 3| so positioned above the platform 11 is engaged thereby and raised vertically into its final position designated D, from which latter position the elevated rack 3| is shifted longitudinally into the drying chamber l3 by means of the fluid pressure operated pusher mechanism 53 hereinbefore described.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the several fluid pressure operated mechanisms operate in predetermined sequence to successively move the several loaded racks 3| along a fixed course of travel through the several chambers I I, I2 and I3, this course of travel for each loaded rack being as follows: longitudinally through the pre-setting chamber ll to and upon the raised platform 62 of the elevator mechanism 60 operatively associated with said chamber, thence downwardly into the dyeing chamber l2 toward the bottom thereof for submergence of the work in the liquid dye bath contained in the chamber l2, thence laterally across the dyeing chamber while maintaining the work submerged within the dye bath, thence upon the lowered platform 11 of the elevator mechanism 6| operatively as-- sociated with the drying chamber l3, thence upwardly into position for horizontal shift into said drying chamber, and thence finally longitudinally through the drying chamber l3 wherein ,the dyed work is completely dried.

Before describing in detail the operation of the apparatus of the present invention, it may be pointed out that any suitable conveyor mechanism may be employed for handling the worksupporting racks 3| as they are successively fed into the presetting chamber H and successively delivered from the drying chamber l3. In Figures 2, 3 and 4 one such form of handling mechanism is generally shown, such mechanism including a suitably driven endless conveyor I65 located immediately in advance of the autoclave apparatus of the present invention with the opposite side portions of the upper level of the conveyor in approximate coplanar alinement with the bottoms of the laterally spaced cham- The endless conveyor I05, which chain sets HIS-I06 respectively disposed at the fore and aft ends of the endless conveyor, is

suitably provided with aseries of longitudinally grooved members I01, these latter members being arranged in spaced parallel relation on the conveyor so that as the latter moves along its path of travel, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 4, successive pairs of these members 101 may be presented in horizontally extending ngitudinal alinement with the tracks extending through the chambers H and i3 and thus provide, in eiiect, forward extensions of said tracks.

The endless conveyor [05 is, of course, arranged for intermittent operation by any suitable operating and control means (not shown), the conveyor being maintained stationary during each of the periods that a loaded work supporting rack M is fed into the pro-setting chamber H and a correspondingly loaded work supporting rack 3! is discharged from the drying chamber l3. It will be understood, of course, that for each loaded rack 3| passed into the pre-setting chamber II a correspondingly loaded rack is discharged from the drying chamber 13, this, assuming, of course, a continuous supply of loaded racks are being passed through the autoclave. In order to insure that each of the work-supporting racks 3| completes its full course of travel through the autoclave, it will be apparent that the number of such racks passing through the autoclave must be sufficient In order to facilitate handling of the individual units 47 comprising in the present instance the stocking fitted upon its rigid shaperetaining form, the several units supported by a given rack 3| may be transferred to and from extensible carriages operative to space the units apart, as shown at ma-ma of Figure 3. Inasmuch as such extensible means for spacing apart the work forms no part of the present invention, further detailed description thereof is not believed essential, it being merely pointed out that the spacing of the work would be effected along the longitudinally extending tracks [cl-I07 of the endless conveyor I05, the untreated work being compacted upon each of the racks 3i just prior to passing the latter into the pre-setting chamber ll, While the finished work is extended into relatively spaced relation after the compactly loaded rack Si is finally discharged from the drying chamber 13. Of course any other desired means may be employed for handling the work-supporting racks 3| to facilitate their successive delivery into the pre-setting chamber It and their successive discharge from the drying chamber 13.

In the general operation of the autoclave apparatus of the present invention, it will be understood, of course, that the several fluid pressure operated mechanisms which are respectively employed for opening and closing the fore and aft closure gates of the chambers l l and i3 and for progressively propelling the work-supporting racks 31 through the autoclave may be correlated or co-ordinated for proper sequential operation thereof by any suitable means which latter may be operated either automatically or manually as may be desired, the sequential operation of the several fluid pressure operating mechanisms being such as to insure that the work is subjected to each treatment afforded by the autoclave for a time 14 period sufiicient to 'satisfactcrily complete the treatment. Naturan the timing will such as to avoid any unnecessary loss of time in completing the full cycle of operations capable of being performed by the autcclave.

In operation of the autoclave apparatus of the present invention steam under suitable pressure at suitable temperature-is supplied to the interior thereof by way of conduits (not shown) leading from any suitable source of supply of the steam; For most satisfactory operation of the autoclave the temperature of the steam may range from 210 degrees F. to 300 degrees while a satisfactory operating pressure of the stream may be within the range of from to 75 pounds. Under such conditions of pressure and temperature the steam is superheated so that it constitutes a satisfactory medium for pre-setting the synthetic yarn of the fabricated articles when the same are sealed within the interior of the pre-se'tting chamber II, as well as to satisfactorily dry such articles when they are sealed within the drying chamber l2. Also, the superheated steam serves as a heating medium for maintaining the liquid dye bath contained in the dyeing chamber ii at the desired heated temperature for most satisfactorily effecting dyeing of the fabricating articlesa's they are passed through the dye bath.

As has been previously indicated, the closure gates provided at the fore and aft ends of each of the chambers H and I3 serve to seal these chambers as required to maintain therein the desired pressure and temperature of the steam, the two rear closure gates of these chambers serving further to seal the steam under pressure within the dyeing chamber i2 against any possibility of loss of the steam pressure when one or the other or both of the frontal closure gates'of the chamber H and I3 are opened.

Referring now more particularly to the dia grammatic views of Figures 14 to inclusive, it will be noted that the work to be treated passes through the several treatment chambers ll, [2 and I3 of the autoclave in the direction as indicated by the arrows in Figures 12 and 15. In its initial condition, that is, just prior to entry of the work into the pie-setting chamber l2, the fore and aft closure gates of this chamber will be closed as shown in Figure 16, as will be the fore and aft closure gates of the drying chamber [3. In this state of conditions all of the chambers li, l2 and l3 will be sealed one from the other and will be filled with the steam at the desired temperature and pressure, this steam pressure being sufficient to maintain the outer closure gates of the chambers H and [3 closed against the pressure of the atmosphere.

when it is desired to introduce into the chamber H one of the racks 3| loaded with its full complement of the articles to be treated, the steam within the chamber H is pumped into the dyeing chamber l2 through the conduit 25! by means of the motor driven pump 22, reverse how or the steam through this conduit being eiiectually prevented. by the unidirectional flow valve 2| which may be of any conventional type. Having so exhausted the interior of the presetting chamber ll of all of its steam under pressure, the outer closure gate 15 may then be freely moved intoits fully opened position as shown in Figure 17 by means of the fluid pressure operating mechanism 31 operatively associated with said gate. Thereupon, the outer l gate. of thechamber II is again closed. by reverseioperation of the mechanism 31 following which the valve 24 'in the condiut 23 is opened to permit flow of the steam under pressure from the chamber I2 back into the sealed chamber II, thereby equalizing the pressure of the steam within the interconnected chambers I|; and I2. Under such equalized steam pressure within the chambers II and I2, the closure gate I 9 at the inner end of the pre-setting chamber I1 is freely movable into its fully opened position, as shown in Figure 18, by means of its fluid pressure operated actuating mechanism 42. The outer gate I5 of the pre-setting chamber will, of course, be held tightly closed by the pressure of the steam contained within the connecting chambers II and I2.

When the inner closure gate I9 is opened, as in Figure 18, the fluid pressure operated puller mechanism.48 engages the loaded rack to draw the same from the pre-setting chamber II into the the dyeing chamber in position within the latter chamber for placement upon the lowering platform 62 of the elevator mechanism I50. Upon movement of the platform I6 with the loaded rack 3| supported thereon into its lowermost position, as shown in Figure 19, the inner closure gate I9 is closed to again seal off the interior of the chamber I2 from the interior of the pre-setting chamber II, following which the steam under pressure is again exhausted from the chamber II as above described to permit free opening of the outer closure gate |5for acceptance of another loaded rack within the chamber I I, the cycle of operation being repeated for each of the racks 3| passed into the drying chamber I3. It will be understood, of course, that whenever the outer closure gate I5 of the pre-setting chamber II is opened, the inner closure gate I9 thereof is closed to prevent the escape to atmosphere of the steam under pressure within the autoclave, the same condition prevailing when the outer gate I5 of the drying chamber is opened.

When the loaded rack is lowered by its supporting platform 62 into its lowermost position within the dye bath contained in the chamber I2, the rack is transferred from said platform on to the fixed supporting rails 8686 for edgewise movement laterally through the dye bath, as shown by the directional arrow in Figure 20. This lateral transfer is effected by means of the lateral transfer mechanism operating in the manner hereinbefore described.

As each loaded rack is successively presented in position above the platform II of the elevator mechanism 6| for movement upwardly out of the dye bath, as shownin Figure 21, the internal steam pressures of the dye chamber I2 and of the drying chamber I3 are equalized by opening of the valve 29 in the line 28 interconnecting said chambers. Thereupon, the inner closure gate I9 of the drying chamber I3 may be freely opened, as in Figure 22, to permit horizontalrectilinear movement of the raised work-supporting rack 3| from the dye chamber into the drying chamber. The rack 3| with its load of dyed work being then so positioned with the drying chamber I3, the rear closure gate I9 of the latter is again closed, as in Figure 23, the interior of the drying chamber being then sealed from atmosphere and from the chamber I2 by its fore and aft closure gates I5 and I 9.

When it is desired to remove the dyed work from within the drying chamber I3 following completionoi the'd'rying treatment, the steam under-pressure contained within the drying cham ber I3 isexhaustedinto'the dye chamber I2 by means of the pump-21 operating in the valved conduit 25, whereuponthe outer closure gate I5 of the drying chamber is free to be moved into its opened position, as shown in Figure 24. Upon so opening this outer gate I5, the finished work may be discharged from the dyeing chamber I2, as shown in Figure 24, following which the closure gate I5 is again closed, the cycle of operation just described being repeated for each rack successively moved into and through the drying chamber.

. vItwill be understood, of course, that during operation of the pump 22 for pumping the steam under pressure from the pre-setting chamber II into the dyeing chamber" I2, the .valve 24 will'be closed, and similarly, whenthe pump 25 operates to pump steam under pressure from the drying chamber I3into thechamber I2 the valve 29 will be closed. Any suitable means may be provided as'desired for-the opening and closing of the valves 24 and 29 and for the operation of the pumps 22 and 21.

The term dye bath as employed in this specification and in the accompanying claims is intended to embrace not only a bath of liquid dye contained within the chamber I2, but also a vaporized dye solution which may be introduced into said dye chamber from any suitable source of supply in the form of a superheated vaporous medium, such as steam, saturated with a suitably colored dye-stuff. In the use of such vaporized dye solution, the autoclave apparatus of the present invention need notemploy the elevator mechanismfill and 6| hereinbefore described, since the dye-saturated vaporous pressure medium would be commonly employed in all of the several chambers of the autoclave to effect pre-setting, dyeing and drying of the articles in what might be considered a single operation and there would be no necessity for lowering the work into and raising it out of a liquid dye bath. Instead, the lateral transfer of the racks 3| across the'chamber I2 could be effected in the same horizontal plane as that'in which the racks are shifted longitudinally through the chambers II and I3. In such single level movement of the racks through the autoclave, the chamber I I would operate primarily as the receiver chamber for work to be treated, while the chamber I3 would operate primarily as the discharge chamber for the finished work.

In such case, the pre-setting, dyeing and drying operations would all be carried out more or less simultaneously in each of the chambers II, I2 and I3, the several closure gates being then selectively operated as hereinbefore described primarily to efiect sequential sealing of the several chambers against escape of the pressurized medium to atmosphere as the article-supporting racks 3| are successively introduced into and successively discharged from the autoclave. In this connection it will be apparent; upon opening of the outer closure gate of the chamber II for acceptance of a loaded rack of articles to be treated, the innerclosure gate thereof will necessarily be closed to confine the vaporous dye-saturated medium under pressure within the chamber I2 until such time as the outer gate of the chamber II is again closed. Similarly, upon opening the outer closure gate of the chamber I 3 for discharge of a load of finished articles, its inner gate will also be closed to confine the pressurized medium within the chamber I2 until such time as the outer gateof the chamber I3 is again closed. Inasmuch asfthe chamber I2 thus serves to receive and hold under suitable pressure the vaporous medium alternately exhausted from the chambers I I and I3 preliminary to opening the outer closure gates of the latter, it will be evident that for effective operation of the autoclave, regardless Whether the dye be in the form of a liquid bath contained in the chamber I2 or in the form of a dye-saturated vaporous pressure medium, a minimum of three chambers is required.

It is within the contemplation of the present invention to introduce the dye medium into the chamber I2 from any suitable stored supply thereof, the requisite quantity being pumped into the chamber I2 by any suitable means (not shown). Upon completion of a particular operation, the dye may be pumped from the chamber I2 to a storage tank or the like (not shown) for subsequent re-use thereof as desired.

While the autoclave of the present invention has been described hereinbefore for use particularly in the treatment of textile materials fabricated of synthetic yarns which preferably require pre-setting as a preliminary to dyeing and drying of the materials, it is to be understood that the autoclave apparatus is not limited to such special use but instead is equally well adapted for the dyeing and drying of textile materials of all kinds and character, regardless of the nature of the yarn employed in their fabrication. For example, for the dyeing and drying of hosiery knitted of natural silk or other yarns which require no pre-setting, the autoclave would be employed exactly as hereinbefore described, the chamber I I serving merely as the receiving chamber for each hosiery-supporting rack 3| passed into and through the autoclave,

the hosiery being dyed in the chamber I2 and dried in the chamber I3. Accordingly, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the autoclave to solely the treatment of goods fabricated of yarns which require to be reset, nor it is intended to so limit the present invention as to constitute the pre-setting treatment hereinbefore referred to an indispensable step in the operation or operations capable of being performed by the autoclave of the present invention.

It will also be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the real spirit or general principles thereof, and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broad 1y, as well as specifically, as indicated in the appended claims. I

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In an apparatus for treating textile materials, an autoclave comprising a plurality of article-receiving chambers each adapted to contain a vaporous treating medium under superatmospheric pressure, said chambers being at least three in number and being arranged in series relation with one of said-chambers disposed intermediately of two end chambers, said chambers being respectively provided with contiguous passages therethrough for movement of the articles to be treated successively through said chambers, means for conveying said articles successively through said chambers of the autoclave, fluid-tight closure gates operative to seal the outer ends of said end chambers from atmosphere and the inner ends thereof from said intermediate chamber, means for equalizing the pressure of the treating medium within said intermediate chamber and at least one of said end chambers preliminarily to opening. of the closure i8 gate therebetween for passage of the articles from one to the other of said pressure-equalized chambers, and means for exhausting the pressure medium from each of said end chambers preliminarily to opening the outer gate of said pressure-exhausted chamber.

2. In an autoclave having a plurality of article-receiving chambers arranged in series relation and having fluid-tight pressure gates for hermetically sealing the several chambers from each other and from atmosphere, each of said chambers being thus adapted to contain a vaporous treating medium under superatmospheric pressure a conveying system for moving the articles through said chambers, said system including a line of article-supporting members shiftable successively through said chambers, means for shifting each said member from the first of said series-related chamber into the second one thereof, means operable upon each member shifted into said second chamber to effect its engagement with a preceding member for advancing the latter and all members preceding it as a group through said second chamber, and means for shifting the leading member or the group advanced through the second chamber outwardly therefrom and into the next adjoining one of said series-related chambers.

3. In an autoclave of the character defined in claim 2 wherein theseveral shifting means aforesaid and the said advancing means are independently actuated by fiuid-pressure operating mechanisms.

4. In an autoclave of the character defined in claim 2 wherein said series-related chambers are respectively provided with guide tracks along which the several article-supporting members are shiftable successively through said chambers.

5. In an autoclave having a pair of laterally spaced parallel chambers each with a tunnellike passage through which the articles undergoing treatment may be shifted and a third chamber extending transversely between said pair of laterally spaced chambers and having openings respectively in registry with the inner ends of said tunnel-like passages a series of article-supporting racks adapted to be progressively shifted successively through said three chambers, and means for shifting said racks through said chambers, said means including a shift mechanism operative to draw said racks successively from the tunnel-like passage of one of said laterally spaced chambers into the interior of said third chamber, a lateral transfer mechanism operative to laterally shift each rack into engagement with a rack previously drawn into said third chamber for advancing the racks as a group through said third chamber, and a shift mechanism operative to push the leading rack of the group advancing through said third chamber into the tunnel-like passage of the other of said laterally spaced chambers.

6. In an autoclave for treating textile materials according to claim 5 in which the several chambers are provided with closure gates for hermetically sealing the same from each other and from atmosphere and wherein means are provided for selectively opening and closing said gates during progress of the article-supporting racks through said chambers.

'7. In an autoclave having a dyeing chamber adapted to contain therein a bath of liquid dye and a pair of auxiliary chambers respectively in communication with the interior of said dyeing chamber above the upper level of the dye bath anal-J contained? therein: a. plurality of racks: upon which the articles to;- be treated? are adapted to be supported for conveyance successively from one of said auxiliary chambers into and through the dyeing chamber and thence into the other of said auxiliary chambers, and rack-conveying means including a pair ofmechanisms respectively operative for shiftin the: racks from one=auxiliary chamber into the,- dyeing chamber and from the dyeing chamber into theother of said auxiliary chambers, said shifting being effected alonga horizontal-plane above the upper level of the dye bath, amechanism for lowering-- the rachs' shifted intothe dyeing chamber for submergence of the articles carriedby: the racks: in the dye bath, a mechanism for raising the racks from aid dye bath to the horizontal plane'aforesaid and a mechanism. for shifting the racks, while the articles carried thereby are submerged in said bath, from the lowering mechanism to the raising mechanism.

8. In an autoclave according to claim I wherein the sever-a1 mechanisms of said conveying means are respectively actuated by fluid pressureoperatedmotors.

9. In: an autoclave according to claim 7- wherein saidauxiliary chambers respectively include longitudinally extending guidetlacks for the-articles to be shiftedtherethrough and wherein the lowering and raising mechanisms respectively include elevator platforms vertically movable into longitudinal alinement with said guide tracks for rectilinear transfer of the article-carrying racks from one track toits alined-el'eva-tor platform and from the other elevator platform to its-alinedtrack.

1 0. In an autoclave according to claim 9 wherein said dyeing chamber is provided with a pair of laterally spaced fi-xed rails extending normal to the guide tracks of said auxiliary chambers and disposed in a horizontal planespaced vertically below that ofsaicl guide tracks, said rails being adapted to receivethereon the articlesupporting racks aforesaid for edgewise movement along said: rails;

11. In apparatus for treating textilearticles, anautoclave comprising a plurality of chambers respectively adapted to receive 7 and containheated' vaporous treating media undersuperatmospheric pressure, said chambers being: interrelated and communicable for progressive passage therethrough of the articles to be treated to successively subject said articles to presettingand dyeing treatments, at least one or said chambers being adapted to contain a heated fluent dye medium to: which; the articles are subjected for dyeing under superatmosphericpressure, liu-id tight closuregates for selectively hermeti cally: sealing the several chambers from each other and from: atmosphere, means for equalizing the operating pressure within the dye-containing chamber and a communicating one of'said other chambers preliminarily to. effiecting free communication between. said: pressure-equalized cham hers. for passage ofthe articles from one: tothe other of saidpressure-equalized chambers; means for exhaustingthe pressure medium from saidcommunicating chamber while maintaining all of'saidchambers hermetically sealed from atmos-., phere, means for selectivelyopening the-pressureexhausted. chamber to atmosphere for passage-of the articles into or outoffsuch pressure-exhaustedchamber; and means for conveying saidarticles successively through the several chambers of the autoclave.

12. In an apparatusfortreatingtextile. articles, an autoclave comprising atleast three chambers respectively adapted to. receive and contain heated vaporous treating media under superatmospheric pressure, said chambers being interrelated for progressive passage therethrough of the articles to be treated, one of said chambers being intermediate of and communicable with each of the others, means for conveying said articles-successi-vely through said chambers of the autoclave, fluid-tight closure gates for hermetically' sealing the several chambers from each other and from atmosphere, and. means for exhausting the vaporous pressure medium from one of saidother two chambers preliminarily to opening the exhausted chamber toatmosphere.

13. In an autoclave having a plurality ofarticle-receiving chambers arranged in series relation and having fluid-tight pressure gates for hermetically sealing the several chambers from each other andfromatmosphere, each ofsaid chamhere beingthus: adapted to contain a vaporous treating medium under superatmospheric pres-- sure; a conveying system for moving the articles through said chambers, said system including a line of article-supporting members shiftable successively-through saidchambers, means for shifting each said member-'f-rom-the first of said seriesrelated chambers into. the second one thereof, means operable upon each member shifted into said second chamber to efiect its engagement withthe preceding member therein, and means for shifting the leading member ofthe group advanced through the second chamber outwardly therefrom and into the'next adjoining one of said series-related chambers.

14. In an apparatus for treating textile articles, an autoclave comprising a plurality of chambers res ectively adapted to receive and contain a heatedvaporous treating medium under superatmospheric pressure, said chambers being interrelated for progressive passage therethrough of the articles to be treated to successively subject said article -tovarious finishin treatments, in-

cl'udingpre-settingand dyeing of the articles, an

intermediate one of said chambers: beingcommunicable with each of the others and being adapted to contain a heated dye bath in which the articles received thereby from one of said other chambers and later deliveredto the other of said other chambers. are adapted to be. subjected. to said dye bath, means for conveying said articles successively through said chambers of the autoclave, fluid-tight; closure gates for selectively hermetically sealingthe several chambers from each other and from atmosphere, and means for exhausting the pressure medium from one of said other chambers while all of said chambers are hermetically sealed from each other-and from atmosphere.

15. In an apparatus for treating textile articles, an autoclave comprising a plurality of chambers respectively adaptedto receive and contain heated vaporous. treating media under superatmospheric pressure, said chambersv being inter-related for progressive passage therethrough of the articles to. be treated to successively subject said articles to various finishing treatments, including presetting and: dyeing of the articles, anintermediateone of. said chambers being communicable with each of the. others and. being. adapted to contain a heated dye bath in which. the articles received thereby from one of saidother chambers and later delivered to the other of said other chamberslare adapted; to be. dyed, means. for conveying said 21 articles successively through said chambers of the autoclave, fluid-tight closure gates for selectively hermetically sealing the several chambers from each other and from atmosphere, means for equalizing the pressure of the treating medium within said intermediate chamber and either one of said other chambers preliminarily to effecting free communication between said pressure-equal ized chambers for passage of the articles from one of said latter chambers to the other, and means for exhausting the pressure medium from either one of said other chambers while maintaining all of said chambers hermetically sealed from atmosphere.

16. In an apparatus for treating textile articles, an autoclave including inter-communicating presetting, dyeing and drying chambers respectively adapted to receive and contain a heated vaporous treating medium under superatmospheric pressure and in which the articles to be treated are respectively subjected to successive pre-setting and dyeing treatments, means for conveying said articles successively through said chambers of the autoclave, means for hermetically sealing each chamber during the period that the articles are contained therein for treatment, said means including fluid-tight closure gates for sealing the outer end of the pre-setting chamber to atmosphere and the inner end thereof from the interior of said dye chamber, fluid-pressure-operated means operatively associated with said closure gates for selectively opening and closing the same in predetermined sequence to permit passage of the articles successively through said pre-setting and dyeing chambers while maintainin the treating medium in said chambers at superatmospheric pressure, and means for exhausting the pressure medium from the pre-setting chamber preliminarily to opening of the outer closure gate of said pre-setting chamber.

17. In an apparatus for treating textile articles, an autoclave comprising at least three chambers respectively adapted to receive and contain heated vaporous treating media under superatmospheric pressure, said chambers being inter-related for progressive passage therethrough of the articles to be treated, one of said chambers being communicable with each of the others, means for conveying said articles successively through said chambers of the autoclave, fluid-tight closure gates for hermetically sealing the several chambers from each other and from atmosphere, and means for delivering into said common chamber the vaporous medium alternately discharged from the other two chambers preliminarily to opening the latter chambers to atmosphere.

SIDNEY BAILEY, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,382,148 Walker June 21, 1921 1,750,093 Crespi Mar. 11, 1930 1,808,152 Baily June 2, 1931 1,907,429 Masland May 9, 1933 2,081,446 Brett May 25, 1937 2,104,514 Galvin Jan. 4, 1938 2,269,838 Wroblewski Jan. 13, 1942 2,338,258 Ray Jan. 4, 1944 2,362,718 Pidgeon Nov. 14, 1944 2,405,077 Van der Heide July 30, 1946 2,415,379 Veira Feb. 4, 1947 2,456,935 Fisher Dec. 21, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 484,569 Great Britain May 3, 1938 

